Guide and holder for arc-lamp electrodes.



G. M. LITTLE. GUIDE AND HOLDER FOE. ARC LAMP ELECTRODES.

. I APPLIOATION FILED MAY 6, 1907.

Patented July 19,1910.

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G. M. LITTLE;

GUIDE AND HOLDER FOB. ARC LAMP ELECTRODES. APPLICATION FILED mu 6, 1907.

.. 4,667. S Patented July 19,1910

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UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. LITTLE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &; MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GUIDE HOLDER FOR ARC-LAMP ELECTRODES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1907.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Serial No. 372,182.

To all whom it may conccm:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Guides and Holders for Arc-Lamp Electrodes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to are lamps and particularly to supporting and guiding means for the movable electrodes of such lamps.

The object of my invention is to so construct and arrange the electrode holder and guide and the cooperating parts of a lamp that electrodes of less than full length may readily be inserted in the holder and utilized.

The more readily consumable electrodes of arc lamps are ordinarily contained in guide tubes located in the upper parts of the lamps and are provided at their upper ends with suitable holders that are connected by means of flexible conductors to one of the circuit terminals of the lamp. The holders are sometimes prevented from rotating by means of set screws or other stops that operate in channels in the tubes containing the electrodes, rotation being prevented in order that the electrodes may be more readily inserted in the holder by a turning or twisting movement thereof. As heretofore arranged, however, only full length electrodes could be inserted in the holder, because it was only when the holder was pressed against the end of the tube or a stop therein that suflicient pressure could be applied to the lower end of the electrode to force it into the holder. This is not a serious matter when ordinary carbon electrodes are, employed but when more expensive materials are utilized in the composition of the electrodes, it is often very desirable, for the sake of economy, to be able to insert electrodes of less than full length into the holders, and it is the object of the present invention to so construct and arrange the parts of the lamp that this may be done.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, Figure l of which, is a view in elevation of a lamp constructed in accordance therewith, portions of the housing and globe being broken away for the sake of clearness of illustration. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, in elevation and in section, of some of the parts of the lamp shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modified construction of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

An arc lamp 1 is provided with a tube 2 that contains an electrode 3 and a holder a into which the electrode is inserted, the holder being electrically connected, vby means of a flexible but somewhat resilient conductor 5, to a stop 6 in the upper portion of the tube 2. The holder 4: is provided with a set screw or other suitable stop 7 that operates in a guide channel 8 upon the side of the tube 2. The holder 4 is thus prevented from rotating and the electrode 3 may be readily inserted therein when the holder is pressed against the stop 6, both by the application of pressure upon the electrode and by rotating the same. A portion of the lower end of the tube 2 including the end of the guide channel 8 is cut away to form a step, so that, when the holder l drops to its lowermost position, the set screw or stop 7 moves out of the guide channel 8 and into the space left by the cutting away of the lower end of the tube. The conductor 5, being somewhat resilient and coiled, will efiect a rotative movement of the holder so that the set screw or stop 7 will be moved out of alinement with the end of the guide channel. A short electrode may then be inserted in the holder f by exerting suflicient pressure upon the electrode, the set screw or stop being pressed against the stepped end of the tube 2. After the electrode is inserted into the holder, the latter may be rotated until the stop 7 is in alinement with the guide channel 8 and the parts may then be moved upwardly into the tube 2.

In Fig. 3 a portion of the lower end of the tube 2 is cut to form a tapering lip 9 that extends across the end of the guide channel 8 in such a manner that, when the stop 7 moves out of the guide channel 8, it engages the inclined face of the lip 9 to effect a rotative movement of the electrode holder as it continues its downward movement. Thus, the rotation of the electrode holder is effected more positively and reliably than by means of the structures shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In each of the figures, the guide tube 2 projects into the upper end of a box 10 that is employed for the purpose of assisting in the ventilation of the lamp, a bridge memher 11 within the box serving as a support for the electrode holder when in its lowermost position and to normally prevent withdrawal of the holder from the guide tube.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an arc lamp the combination with an electrode holder having a stop, of a guide for the stop, and means for automatically effecting movement of the stop out of alinement with the guide at one extremity of its travel.

2. In an arc lamp, the combination with an electrode holder having a stop, of a tube containing the holder and having a guide for the stop, and means for automatically effecting movement of the stop out of alinement with the guide in order that it may subsequently prevent longitudinal movement of the holder.

3. In an arc lamp, the combination with an electrode holder having a stop, of a tube containing the holder and having a guide for directing the longitudinal movement, and means for directing and automatically causing lateral movement of the stop.

4c. In an arc lamp, the combination with an electrode holder having a stop, of a tube containing the holder, and a guide for the stop extending nearly to the end of the tube and a lip at the end of the tube for causing lateral movement of the stop after the same has left the guide.

5. In an arc lamp, the combination with an electrode holder, and a guide tube therefor, of a stop carried by the holder, and

means. for automatically eifecting rotative movement of the holder at one limit of its travel in order that the stop may subsequently prevent longitudinal movement of the holder.

6. In an arc lamp, the combination with an electrode holder having a sto of a tube for the holder having a guide or the stop and a transversely extending inclined lip at the end of the guide.

7. In an arc lamp, the combination with an electrode holder having a stop, of a tube for the holder having a guide for the stop, a shoulder and an inclined stop extending transversely from opposite sides of the guide.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of April, 1907.

GEORGE M. LITTLE.

lVitnesses:

Or'ro S. SOI-IAIRER, BIRNEY HINns. 

